BENIN CITY- Years after a septuagenarian man was reportedly murdered in Ova Community, his family has lambasted the police for alleged inactivity just as they demanded for the rearrest and prosecution of an escapee suspect arrested at the wake of the killing.
The suspect identified as Bright Terry Eyemwonmwen, 34 reportedly escaped from police custody, few days after his arrest for the dastardly act.
Our crime correspondent who have been following the murder case, authoritatively recalled that the deceased Pa Odigie Richard, 69 was reportedly shot dead in Ova Community, Ovia North East local government area of Edo State on June 21, 2016.
A group who identified itself as aggrieved family members and kinsmen of the deceased stormed the state police command headquarters, Benin City, today to demand justice for late Pa Odigie Richard.
They disclosed that their visit was part of activities to mark three years anniversary of the community leader murdered in cold blood.
Some members of the group, James and Uwa Odigie (children of the deceased), Elder Agho Uyi and Okoro Timi said they were at the police headquarters to register their displeasure at the poor manner of investigation.
They however vowed to do all within their powers to ensure justice is served in the killing.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal, Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Edo Police Command DCP Ahmed Usman Yusuf who addressed the protesting family explained that the police have not relented in unmasking the killers of their father.
The DCP however expressed his disappointment at the allegation that the police had abandoned investigation into the killing.
“Were you not invited here when my operatives arrested two suspects who made confessional statements before we charged them to court?
“Probably you will not be satisfied with our efforts until we rearrest your accused person Bright Terry Eyemwonmwen who escaped from our custody”. DCP Ahmed Usman pointed at one of the elderly men among the protesters at the entrance to the police command headquarters, Benin City while addressing them, today, Friday, June 21, 2019.
Meanwhile, the case however took another twist as sources have revealed that the escapee murder suspect Bright Terry Eyemwonmwen is a victim of persecution.
A dependable source hinted that some members of occultic group which his late father belonged were behind his travails.
His paternal uncle identified as a first class chief in Benin kingdom and his brother were among Bright Eyemwonmwen’s aggressors.
It was gathered that members of the vicious group started victimising him after he rebuked their efforts to initiate and make him step into his late father’s stool in the deadly occultic fold.
Our crime reporter further scooped that the alleged murder suspect’s persecution dates back to 2012 when he was still a student of the university of Benin, UNIBEN, in Benin City.
It was gathered that being the spokesman for his department (Banking and Finance) he was accused of membership of a cult group, an allegation that reportedly led to his arrest and detention.
The source disclosed further that it took the protest of students of the university to secure his release after months in police custody.
It was also learnt that the suspect’s victimisation persisted with his several arrests and tortures by some alleged paid operatives of the Edo State Police Command whom on two occasions invaded his family residence at Ogida, Benin City.
In one of the separate invasions, due to mistaken identity a policeman allegedly shot to death the suspect younger brother, just as the suspect Bright Terry Eyemwonmwen himself was shot in his right hand when a team of policemen stormed his residence, the second time.
Inside source revealed that the escapee suspect had his troubles heightened after his father’s death.
Meanwhile, our crime reporter’s visits to his family residence to obtain comments from Bright Eyemwonmwen did not yield expected results.
It was gathered that, for years his whereabouts has remained unknown in the neighbourhood.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer for Edo State Police Command SP Chidi Nwanbuzor stated that investigators are on the trail of Bright Eyemwonmwen.
“We are not unaware of the problems the suspect has with some faceless groups which his father was an active member, I will not comment on that.
“The police acted on complaints of bereaved family members and the deceased kinsmen. So, we swiftly took him to protective custody where he escaped.
“However, investigation has not linked him to the murder in Ova Community because the two suspects we eventually arrested in connection to the case did not mention his name before they were arraigned and remanded.
“We shall leave no stone unturned to apprehend him, if not for the murder case certainly for his escape which some of our officers have been made to face orderly room trial, found guilty, demoted while one of them was dismissed outrightly.
“He can run, but he cannot hide forever. He will be brought to justice soon”. SP Chidi assured.
On the shooting of the suspect and the killing of his younger brother during raids on his family residence, the police spokesman said that he has not been sufficiently briefed to speak on that.
